Farewell to Brill The "Last" Run of Vancouver's immortal trolleybuses

AUGUST 16, 1948   -   JANUARY 15, 1984

Cognoscenti of rubber-tired electric traction flocked to Vancouver for the ceremonial excursion known as "Farewell to Brill".  It was a crisp sunny Sunday, and I was there taking advantage of the light

with my little 110 camera -- the last time I ever used it.  Enjoy!

(you can click the map to enlarge it)

1-1:  Vintage buses formed an "honour line" at Oakridge Transit Centre.  This is a Fageol Twin Coach and its number was M852 when it was part of the Vancouver fleet.  Now fully restored and gleaming in its BC Electric cream paint, it may be viewed here.  As far as I know the name is pronounced Fay'jul.  At right is a Flyer D-800 diesel in the evolved scheme of orange and brown striping.

1-2:  Most of our Brills were T-48 40-footers.  Brill also made a 35-foot trolleybus, the T-44.  BC Electric rostered a few T-44s in the 2000 series including this charming little fella, the 2040 (see a 2008 photo here).  The OTC Admin building is in back, and just beyond, the road intersection well known to TB watchers . . . .

41     TO 41st  &  OAK

1-3:  This early-40's Twin Coach was in service for Seattle Metro Transit until the early 70's when Metro re-equipped with AM Generals.  I am perhaps partial, but style-wise the other trolleybuses like the Pullman and the Twin just could not hold a candle to the good-looking Brill.  Metro 657 came to Vancouver to be part of the honour line for the Brill retirement.

1-4:  On 2040's dash is the original Tomato Bird.  The First Nations thunderbird nudged aside Reddy Kilowatt to become the post-WWII mascot of the BC Electric.  To some, it was a toy totem pole in a vegetable or The Worm in the Apple.  Unflattering nicknames may be why the Tomato Bird evolved toward a smaller "tomato" and a bigger thunderbird.  When BC Hydro was created, a stylized H replaced the Tomato Bird, and Eggshell White replaced cream.

1-5:  You can't make it out here, but the featured bus is signed "17 Victoria to 54th" indicating a short turn prior to its return to the garage.  I've a confession to make.  I once sneaked into the OTC, fired up a Brill like this, dropped the big lever that released the emergency brake, and drove it.  My short but eventful joyride ended against the bumper of the vehicle in front.

1-6:  Another shot of 2040 in the honour line.  I had a couple of sweaters like that;  all were retired by 1984.  During my 1970's student days I had to wear 'em because my Mom and Dad wouldn't give me enough allowance so I could do my own clothes shopping.  My Sunday daypass excursions pretty much exhausted the funds available.  (I sense an allegory for public transit in general.)

1-7:  We've now boarded 2271, and with 2309 behind us in trail, we've set out from Oakridge for the high wire on 41st Avenue.  That could be Brian Kelly standing up front, in the MTOC uniform, briefing us on the day's activities.  Brian wrote the historical booklet Farewell to Brill.  A copy of FTB was, of course, included in the price of my ticket.

1-8:  My partners for the day were Ernie and a woman who Ernie can't identify today.  They could be sister and brother!  Anyway, we're buzzing south on Arbutus, approaching 33rd Avenue and the foot of the grade that leads up to Kerrisdale.  The bracket in the window was for a card with route numbers printed on both sides.  A souvenir of my trip was a 7-Dunbar/12-Powell card.

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